The Heisman Trophy winner grounded out to second and struck out looking in Florida State's loss

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By The Associated Press

MPNnow

By The Associated Press

Posted Feb. 25, 2014 at 7:00 PM

By The Associated Press
Posted Feb. 25, 2014 at 7:00 PM

TAMPA, Fla. — Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston grounded out to second and struck out looking in Florida State's 8-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday.

Winston entered in left field in the fifth inning and hit a groundball on an 0-2 pitch from minor leaguer Shane Greene during the sixth. In the eighth, Winston took a full-count pitch from Bryan Mitchell for a called third strike.

"The favorite part of the day was just being out here," Winston said. "Being around a bunch of big league guys, and they proved it. They beat us."

The sophomore quarterback led the Seminoles football team to the national championship with a 34-31 victory over Auburn on January 6. He's made three scoreless appearances this season as a the baseball team's closer. Winston had a single in his only previously at-bat this year.

"Obviously, he's a great talent," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I guess he had a football injury in the championship game which kept him from hitting for a while. But he's just starting to pick up the bat again. I guess he had torn a ligament in his left index finger."

Brett Gardner had an infield single in his lone at-bat and Brendan Ryan hit an RBI double for the Yankees, who played their spring training opener.

Joining Gardner and Ryan in the lineup were Kelly Johnson and Francisco Cervelli.

Florida State football head coach Jimbo Fisher threw the ceremonial first pitch in front of an announced crowd of 7,708 that included a large number of FSU fans.